Switching means for trolley conductors



Jan. 28, 1941. CRANE 2,229,883

SWITCHING MEANS FOR TROLLEY CONDUCTORS Filed 001;. 15, 1940 Z kll vemr55i'1-the right as viewed -in'=Fig.-- 1 and-is directed 23 by conductor25.

Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNIv SfiiY'ES TENT OFFICE EWITCl-HN G MEANS FORTROLLEY CONDUCTORS i Application October 15, 1940, Serial No. 361,244

Claims.

This invention relates to trolley conductor switches and particularly toswitches for trolley coachlines where current is supplied to the trolleycoaches from two overhead parallel lines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means forautomatically operating the trolley switches from the position of thecurrent collectorson the trolley lines due to the position of thetrolley bus relative to the lines.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified by the combination and arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawing and described in the followingspecification and it is more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

Fig. i l is a, diagrammatic plan of main and branch trolley linesprovided with an automatic switch embodying one form of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified formerthe invention.

In Fig. 1 ofthe drawing the numerals Ill and H designate a pair of maintrolley conductors and the numerals I2 and I3 designate a pair of branchconductors arranged to be connected with the main conductors by switchtongues l4 and I5 pivotally connected to the main conductors at It andil respectively. Any well known suitable form of trolley switch may beused. The switch tongues I4 and it are connected together and constrainto operate in unison by suitable means such as a cross bar It having anarmature i9 connected therewith arranged to be operated to shift thetongues i l-and It in opposite directions by solenoids and 2!respectively. The solenoid 2d when energized moves the switch tongues tothe full line or straight away position shown in the drawing, while thesolenoid 2i when energized moves the switch tongues to the broken lineposition so as to direct the collectors onto the branch lines l2 and i3.Contactors 22 and 23 are disposed adjacent the trolley conductors illand II respectively in such position that they are electricallyconnected to their respective trolley conductors when a collector shoepasses the contactors. The solenoid!!! is connected to the contactor 22by conductor 24 and to the contactor The solenoid 20 is connected to thecontactor 22 through a resistance 26 and conductor 21 and is connecteddirectly to the trolley conductor I I by the conductor 28.

When-a trolley bus approaches the switch from straight through, thecollector on the conductor Ii] will strike the contactor 22 before thecollector on the conductor ll engages the contactor 23. With thecollectors in this position, the contactor 22 will be connected to theconductor Ill and current will flow through the conductor 24, theconductor 27, the resistance 25, the coil 20, and the conductor 28 tothe conductor ll, thus energizing the coil 20 and moving theswitchtongues into theirfull line position if they are. not already sopositioned. As the coach. continues toward the switch, the collectorwill move out of engagement with the contactor 22 before the oppositecollector engages the contactor 23 and the switch tongues will remain intheir full line position and will not be aiiected by engagement of thecollector on the conductor H with the contactor '23 because when thisoccurs the contactor 22 will be disengaged from the conductor l0 andthere is no connection for completing. the circuit between the contactor23 through the coil 2| to the conductor it. It will thus be seen thatwhen the bus approaches the switch in parallel relation with the trolleyconductors, the switch tongues will be moved to their straight throughposition or will remain in this position if they are already so placedand the collectors will be guided straight through the switch. If,however, when the coach approaches the switch it turns to the right soas to follow the branch lines l2 and iii, the leit-hand currentcollector or the one in contact with the conductor I I will be movedahead of the righthand current collector due to the angular position ofthe coach, so that the two collectors will engage the contactors 22 and23 simultaneously. The collector in engagement with the contactor 22will complete the circuit through the coil 23 and resistance 26 in themanner previously described, but at the same time the circuit throughthe coil 2! will also be completed from the contactor 22 through theconductor 24, the coil 2|, the conductor and the contactor 23 to theconductor ll, so that both coils will be simultaneously energized. Thecoil 29 is in series with the resistance 26, while the coil H has noseries resistance and is so designed that when both coils aresimultaneously energizedthe magnetic force exerted by the coil 2| on thearmature It will overcome the force exerted by the coil 2t and will movethe switch tongues to their broken line position. The contactor 23 ismade of sul cient length to insure engagement of the collector shoe withthis contactor until after the other shoe has left the contactor 22.Since both coils are energized through the conductor 2d from thecontactor 22, both coils will be simultaneously deenergized when thecollector shoe leaves the contactor 22 and the switch tongues willremain in their broken line position, so that when the collectors reachthe switch, they will be directed onto the branch lines 12 and i3. Withthe arrangement shown no relays or electric switches of any kind arerequired and the only movable parts are the switch tongues and theoperating mechanism connected therewith.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1except that each switch tongue is provided with a pair of coils insteadof being connected together and having a single pair of coils foroperating both switches. The switch tongue [4, for instance, is operatedby the coils 2t and 2|, the coil 20' having a resistance 26 in seriestherewith. The switch tongue [5 is operated by the coils 20 and 2|, thecoil 20 being in series with the resistance 26". The operation of thearrangement shown in Fig. 2 is the same as that in Fig. 1 except thatthe switch tongues are operated each by its own pair of coils instead ofbeing mechanically joined and operated by a single pair of coils.

I claim:

1. The combination with a main trolley conductor line and a branch line,of a switch for connecting said branch line to said main line,electromagnetic means comprising a pair of opposed windings foroperating said switch, one of said windings when energized havinggreater magnetic force than the other, means for energizing the weakerof said windings independently of the stronger to move said switch toone position and means for energizing both of said windingssimultaneously to move said switch, to another position.

2. The combination with a main trolley conductor line and a branch line,of a switch for connecting said branch line to said main line,electromagnetic means comprising a pair of opposed windings foroperating said switch, means for energizing one of said windingsindependently of the other to move said switch to one position ofadjustment, and means for connecting said windings in parallel relationwith each other, one of said windings having greater resistance inseries therewith than the other when said windings are so connected sothat the winding having the less resistance in series will dominate thewinding having the greater resistance and move said switch to anotherposition of adjustment when said windings are simultaneously energizedwhile connected in parallel relation.

3. The combination with a switch having two positions of adjustment, ofelectromagnetic means for operating said switch, said means comprising awinding for moving said switch to one of its said positions, a secondwinding arranged to oppose said first named winding, means forenergizing said first named winding independently of said second namedwinding to move said switch to its one position and means for energizingboth of said windings simultaneously, said second named winding havingsuificient magnetic force to overcome said first named winding and tomove said switch to its other position of adjustment when said windingsare simultaneously energized.

4. The combination with a switch having two positions of adjustment, ofelectromagnetic means for operating said switch comprising two windingsarranged to oppose each other, one of said windings when energizedhaving greater magnetic force than the other, means for energizing theweaker of said windings independently of the stronger to move saidswitch to one position of adjustment and means for energizing both ofsaid windings simultaneously to move said switch to its other positionof adjustment.

5. The combination with a pair of main trolley line conductors and apair of branch conductors, of switching means for connecting said branchconductors to said main conductors respectively, electromagnetic meansfor operating said switching means comprising a pair of opposed windingsone of which is magnetically stronger when energized than the other,contactors adjacent said main conductors respectively in position to beelectrically connected to said conductors by current collectors passingthereover, said contactors being arranged to be engaged at differenttimes or simultaneously by the collectors of a trolley bus dependingupon the angular position of said bus relative to said trolley lineconductors, and circuits including said contactors for energizing saidwindings from said trolley line conductors when said contactors areengaged by current collectors, the weaker of said windings beingenergized independently of the stronger or both of said windings beingenergized simultaneously depending upon whether said contactors areengaged separately or simultaneously.

6. The combination with a main trolley line conductor and a branchconductor, of a switch for connecting said branch conductor with saidmain conductor, a contactor arranged adjacent said main conductor inposition to be electrically connected with said main conductor when acurrent collector passes said contactor along said main conductor,electromagnetic means for operating said switch comprising a pair ofopposed windings, means connecting one terminal of each of said windingsto said contactor, the circuit of one of said windings having greaterresistance than the circuit of the other of said windings, means forcompleting the circuit of the winding having the greater resistanceindependently of the circuit of the other winding to move said switch inone direction and means for completing the circuits of both of saidwindings in parallel relation with each other to move said switch in theother direction.

'7. The combination with a pair of main trolley line conductors and apair of branch conductors, of switching means for connecting said branchconductors to said main conductors respectively, contactors arrangedadjacent said main conductors respectively in position to be connectedwith said main conductors by current collectors passing said contactorsalong said main conductors, electromagnetic means for operating saidswitching means, said electromagnetic means comprising a pair of opposedwindings, means connecting one terminal of each of said windings to oneof said contactors and means connecting the other terminals of saidwindings to the other contactor and to the conductor adjacent said othercontactor respectively, the winding with one terminal connected to theconductor having greater resistance in circuit therewith than the otherwinding.

8. The combination with a pair of main trolley line conductors and apair of branch conductors, of switching means for connecting said branchconductors with said main conductors respectively and electromagneticmeans for operating said switching means, said electromagnetic meanscomprising a pair of opposed windings, one of said windings havinggreater resistance in circuit therewith than the other and-means forenergizing said windings simultaneously or one of said windingsindependently of the other depending upon the position relative to saidconductors of a trolley coach having collectors engaging saidconductors.

9. The combination with a pair of main trolley line conductors and apair of branch conductors, of switching means for connecting said branchconductors with said main conductors respectively, a pair of contactors,one adjacent each of said main conductors in position to be connectedwith its main conductor by one of the current collectors of a trolleycoach propelled from said conductors, said contactors being connected totheir respective conductors simultaneously or at difierent timesdepending upon the position of said coach relative to said conductorsand electromagnetic means for operating said switching means comprisinga pair of opposed windings each having one terminal thereof connectedwith the same one of said contactors and one winding having the secondterminal thereof connected with the other contactor while the otherwinding has its second terminal connected with the main conductorassociated with said last named contactor, said last mentioned windinghaving greater resistance in circuit therewith than the other winding sothat when the contactor connected to both windings is separatelyconnected to its conductor, the winding having the greater resistance inits circuit will be energized independently of the other winding to movesaid switching means in one direction and when both contactors aresimultaneously connected to their respective conductors both of saidwindings will be energized simultaneously and the one having the lessresistance in circuit therewith will overcome the one having the greaterresistance and move the switching means in the other direction.

10. Switching means for trolley conductors comprising a pair of opposedelectromagnetic windings having one common terminal, means forcompleting the circuit of one of said windings independently of theother to move said switching means in one direction and means forcompleting the circuit of said windings in parallel with each other, thecircuits thus completed differing in resistance so that when thusconnected the Winding having the less resistance in circuit therewithwill overcome the other Winding and move said switching means in theopposite direction.

11. The combination with a pair of trolley conductor lines of differentpotentials of a pair of contactors one adjacent each of said lines inposition to be connected with said lines by current collectors passing:thereover, electromagnetic windings, one connected between one of saidcontactors and the conductor adjacent the other contactor and the otherwinding connected between said contactors so that when only thecontactor connected with both windings is connected to its conductoronly one of said windings will be energized and when both contactors areconnected simultaneously with their respective conductors both windingswill be energized.

1.); The combination with a conductor having a contactor adjacentthereto in position to be connected therewith by a current collector ofa trolley coach passing thereover, of a second conductor oi diiierentpotential having a contactor adjacent thereto in position to beconnected therewith by the other current collector of said coach,switching means for said conductors, and electromagnetic means foroperating said switching means comprising a winding connected betweensaid first named contactor and said second named conductor and a secondwinding connected between said first named contactor and said secondnamed contactor so that when said coach is in a position in which saidfirst named contactor only is connected with its conductor the firstnamed winding only will be energized but when said coach is in aposition in which both contactors are connected simultaneously withtheir respective conductors both windings will be energized.

13. The combination with a conductor having a contactor adjacent theretoin position to be connected therewith by a current collector of atrolley coach passing thereover, of a second conductor of differentpotential having a contactor adjacent thereto in position to beconnected therewith by the other current collector of said coach,switching means for said conductors, and electromagnetic means foroperating said switching means comprising a winding connected betweensaid first named contactor and said second named conductor and a secondwinding connected between said first named contactor and said secondnamed contactor so that when said coach is in a position in which saidfirst named contactor only is connected with its conductor the firstnamed winding only will be energized but when said coach is in aposition in which both contactors are connected simultaneously withtheir respective conductors both windings. will be energized, saidwindings being opposed to each other and the circuit of the first namedwinding having more resistance therein than the circuit of the secondnamed winding so that when said windings are simultaneously energizedsaid first named winding will be dominated by the second named winding.

14. The combination with a conductor having a contactor adjacent theretoin position to be connected therewith by the current collector of atrolley coach passing thereover, of a second conductor of differentpotential having a contactor in position to be connected therewith bythe other current collector of said coach, a plurality of electriccircuits connected with said first a named contactor, one of saidcircuits being connected also with said second named contactor, saidcontactors being disposed relative to each other so that when a trolleycoach passes said contactors the current collector will always move outof engagement with said first named contactor prior to disengagementbetween the other current collector and said second named contactor toinsure simultaneous opening of all the circuits connected with saidfirst named contactor.

15. The combination with a trolley line conductor and a contactoradjacent thereto in position to be connected therewith by a currentcollector of a trolley coach, of a second trolley line conductor ofdifferent potential having a contactor in position to be connectedtherewith by the other current collector of said coach, said contactorsbeing disposed in position to be connected either successively orsimultaneously with their conductors as a coach passes thereby dependingon the angular position of said coach relative to said conductors,switching means for said conductors, and electromagnetic means foroperating said switching means, said electromagnetic means comprising awinding connected between said first named contactor and said secondnamed conductor for moving said switching means in one direction whensaid first named contactor only is connected with its conductor, asecond winding connected between said contactors and opposed to saidfirst winding and having sufiicient magnetic force to dominate saidfirst named winding and move said switching means 10 in the oppositedirection when both contactors are simultaneously connected with theirrespective conductors to energize both windings, said second namedcontactor extending along its conductor beyond the extreme position ofsimultaneous contact of both contactors by said current collectors toinsure disconnection of said first named contactor from its conductor inadvance of disconnection of said second named contactor from itsconductor.

ALPHEUS J. CRANE.

